The Frost Fair - which has a spectacular ice rink as the centrepiece - is open during the Christmas holidays.

Thousands of visitors have enjoyed the 20-metre rink and other delights of the winter wonderland experience which includes entertainment, animation, a prize-giving Snow Cannon and Santa's Lapland Grotto.

Market and craft stalls selling local produce and festive gifts have been set up together with performances from local pantomime groups and ice skaters.

Compared with last year, from the start of December to date, more than 12,000 more people have visited the zoo, with the Frost Fair pulling in most.

Sharon Leeson, the zoo's head of marketing and development, said: 'We have had a phenomenal response to the Frost Fair since it opened and the ice rink has been a big draw with visitors.

Natalie Stokes, PR and marketing assistant for the zoo, added: 'The Frost Fair is doing very well, at the moment we are on par with previous years' figures and hope to top them this year.'

'The last three months have been very positive on the visitors' front and Frost Fair looks set to help continue that trend.'

FACTfile

* Skating, including boot hire, costs an additional £5 per adult and £4 per child

* Grotto entry costs £4 per child and includes a free toy from Santa's toy shop

* The Frost Fair will open from noon until 8pm, apart from Christmas Eve when it will run from noon until 6pm.

* The Elephants of the Asian Forest exhibit - home to Chester's 10 elephants including the new male calf Raman - remains open until 7.30pm for the duration of the Frost Fair, which runs until February 4 next year.